A MAN who was facing trial accused of stealing worthless mercury - and which would have cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds - has been cleared.

Jasber Singh, 43, had denied theft and his trial was set to have been adjourned because of witness problems.

Judge Beverley Lunt had urged the Crown Prosecution Service, which wanted the hearing to go on, to look again at the case.

She told Burnley Crown Court it cost £5,000 a day to run a court and said:"This is a trial over the theft of mercury which has no value."

She added if the trial had gone ahead and Singh had been acquitted, she would have been considering costs.

The judge went on: "We have got more work to be done than that."

After the judge's comments, prosecutor Nigel Booth said he had spoken to the CPS and told the court there would be no significant advantage in seeking to adjourn further for a trial..

The defendant , of Gorse Road, Blackburn, was cleared of theft after the judge recorded a not guilty verdict.